A view from the islands

[Seb]

Here is another shot from Toronto. I wanted to capture the city as a whole without going for something generic hence the sailboats as a frame.

Does it works for you? Is this shot too busy or not? Any comment is welcome.

regards

Seb

[Todd Patten]

My first impression is that it was very busy. I do not know what to focus on. The masts are not an issue. Instead the riggers (?) coming down from each seems to be a distraction.

[opus]

I guess I find it busy, too...

[Yoyo Szeto]

Hi Seb,
The clouds are wonderful but there is no vantage point in the shot.
All the best.
yoyo

[Seb]

Hey guy's thank you for commenting. Frankly, I have to say that I have an hard time evaluating my own picture. It just seems much easier when I have to comment on someone else work.

Anyway, I think that I have have figured out a concept that would make that kind of shot work: if I was to use one of the end of a row of sailboats parallel to each others and that I would use the mast and cables as a triangular frame (not too sure if I express myself clearly...). I probably won't be able to try this idea anytime soon but I'll post the results here when I'll make it.

regards

Seb

[villenadecorte]

I agree a bit with Todd. The masts dont really bother me, just all the littler ropes (what are they????) coming through them obscure the city view. I like the off centeredness of the city line, but would like to have seen something balancing out the left a tad more.
Otherwise, I think the colors are great and even.

Cheers!
VD

Here is another shot from Toronto. I wanted to capture the city as a whole without going for something generic hence the sailboats as a frame.

Does it works for you? Is this shot too busy or not? Any comment is welcome.

regards

Seb

[Seb]

I agree a bit with Todd. The masts dont really bother me, just all the littler ropes (what are they????) coming through them obscure the city view. I like the off centeredness of the city line, but would like to have seen something balancing out the left a tad more.
Otherwise, I think the colors are great and even.

Cheers!
VD

Hello,

I am not exactly a sailor so I couldn't explain with the propers technicals terms but the ropes simply are the ropes that secure the mast and support the sails.

thank you for commenting.

Seb

[another view]

Good for trying to photograph a well known subject a little differently. I do agree that it's a little busy though. Maybe with a less busy foreground, and by that I mean maybe choosing one boat (possible problem with property release if used commercially though?) or try to get some separation between the boats and the skyline.

This just in from the department of useless knowledge: Shrouds hold the mast up on the sides, and spreaders are the poles that stick out horizontally from the mast, holding the shrouds at a greater angle for more strength. The backstay is the wire that goes from the top of the mast to the back of the boat, headstays from the top to the front. The ropes coming off the rolled up (furled) sail near the front of the boat are sheets. Actually there are no ropes on a boat, they're called lines when they're on a boat. Then there's the lifeline rigging near the deck and a million other ones too... I used to race small sailboats in a previous life. Yeah, I know - sailors are just a little off the beaten path (so to speak).